A mid-ranking police officer is facing an internal investigation over his alleged ties to a Bangkok drug gang.
Massive haul: Police yesterday parade two suspects and the 1.7 million amphetamine pills and 36kg of the drug ice seized during a raid on Friday night.Photo: Patipat Janthong
National police chief Pol Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang said on Saturday he had ordered investigators to gather evidence to substantiate charges against the officer, whose name was not revealed.
He said any assets suspected of being acquired with drug money should be seized, amid allegations the officer sanctioned the sale of narcotics in several Bangkok nightclubs.
The probe follows the seizure of 1.7 million amphetamine pills and 36kg of the drug ice from a house in Bung Kum district on Friday night.
Officers also confiscated a Lamborghini and a Porsche from the house, on Navamin Soi 149.
Three suspects were taken into custody: Arthit Rati-anant, 35, Anuwat Sarisith, 29, and Rachan Leeta, 27.
Pol Lt Gen Rewat Klin-kesorn, commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, said Mr Arthit had attempted to drive away in a bid to evade police. Once in custody, he had a seizure and fell unconscious.
Officers later learned Mr Arthit had skipped bail in a previous drug case and had two outstanding arrest warrants. His flight had caused the Min Buri Court judge who granted his bail to lose his job.
Pol Maj Gen Supakij Srijantaranont, deputy commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, said the gang had supplied drugs to several nightclubs which sold to their customers.